Is Leadership a Skill or a Position?

Leadership is an action, not a position. Your skills play a role in your ability to lead effectively. At The Center for Leadership Studies, we help employees gain the skills to become effective leaders.

“Leaders are made … and not born.”

What Is the Difference Between a Skill and a Position?

A skill is the knowledge, competencies and abilities one possesses to perform operational tasks. Individuals can develop their skills through study and practical experience in their life or work. Many jobs, such as leadership, require individuals to possess multiple skills.

A position is the function an employee serves at a company and includes the daily tasks and projects they complete. Every employee’s job includes specific duties to help the company reach its goals.

How to Hone Leadership Skills

No one is born a leader, and individuals become leaders through their skills, actions and behavior rather than moving into a position of power. All individuals can cultivate their hard and soft skills to become better leaders. A few steps you can take to improve your leadership skills include:

1. Make a list of the skills you want to improve: Some skills are more in demand than others, so consider which will be the most beneficial for your unique working environment.
2. Dedicate yourself to improving your skills: Understanding why you wish to enhance your skills and what motivates you makes investing time and money in developing your skills easier.
3. Set goals and milestones: Being honest about your current skill level allows for realistic chances for improvement.
4. Find a coach or mentor: A coach or mentor can serve as an expert to guide you through the process and provide constructive feedback.
5. Have plans for improving specific skills: Your plan for achieving a skill might include breaking it down into different modules or creating specific training initiatives.
6. Find support: A solid support system is vital for developing your skills and enables you to connect with others who may be enhancing similar skills.
7. Monitor your progress: Create a feedback system. You might ask for tips from others who have undergone a similar process or use other skill development models to benchmark your progress and reward yourself for reaching milestones.

Enhance Your Leadership Skills Today

The Center for Leadership Studies is proud to help individuals enhance their skills through the Situational Leadership^® methodology. Throughout our years in business, we have trained over 15 million leaders and counting, and we look forward to having you join our long list of satisfied customers. To learn more, we invite you to contact our team today!